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Vigevano (Avgevan in the local variety of Western Lombard) is particularly well known for its beautiful Renaissance "Piazza Ducale", in the centre of the town, one the most beautiful piazzas in Italy, and the Castle, that stands out among all others in Lombardy.

The castle, which rises up at the town's highest point, is grafted on to the planimetric foundation and structure of the pre-existing walled city dating back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The castle was built in two important and consecutive stages, one under the Viscontis and the other under the Sforzas. The first was prompted by the mayor of Vigevano, Luchino Visconti. In 1341 he ordered the building of the "Rocca Vecchia", a fortress for keeping watch over the road to Milan. Then, in 1345, he instigated the building of the castle itself, the present "Maschio", which was quadrilateral in shape and had four angular towers. Two years later, the two forts were linked by the strada coperta, a great raised and fortified thoroughfare which extended across the town and made it possible to pass quickly from the castle to the open countryside beyond. It was a remarkable achievement,164 metres long and 7 metres wide. The construction stage under the Sforzas has become significant due to the artistic contribution of Donato Bramante.

In this period, the castle took on the traits of a magnificent princely residence and acquired the splendour due to it as one of Europe's richest Renaissance courts.

Leonardo da Vinci was guest at Vigevano, as was Bramante, who is ascribed with the tall tower that watches over the piazza from the Castello Sforzesco. The old castle has a unique raised covered road, high enough for horsemen to ride through, that communicates between the new palace and the old fortifications;

Strada coperta entrance

Strada coperta (roofed road)

Strade Sotterranee. Evocative subsurface passages connecting the lower part of the town and the castleStrada coperta (roofed road)

Strada coperta (roofed road)

Strada coperta (roofed road)

The "Strada coperta" (roofed

road) a great raised and

fortified thoroughfare, a

14th century covered road that

is a unique masterpiece in

Europe. "Strada coperta“ extended across

the town and made it possible to pass quickly

form the castle to the open

countryside beyond. It was a

remarkable achievement, 164 metres long and 7 metres wide. Strade Sotterranee

In the two year period from 1492 - 1494, Duke Ludovico Maria Sforza, known as "il Moro", instigated the completion of the stables, the tower made up of graduated parts, and the fine colonnades of the "falconiera"

falconiera

The Falconry, an elegant loggiato supported by 48 columns. “Falconiera” was thus called because it was the place used to breed falcons and train them to hunt.

THE DUCAL STABLESEntering the Castle from the Tower Hall, you reach the immense yard and on your right you can find the Stables.The Stables consist in three two-floor buildings following each other with their facade decorated with what remains of the 15th century frescos.The First Stable was built in 1490 by order of Duke Ludovico il Moro for the horses of his "beloved nephew Gian Galeazzo". The proportions of this cross vaulted building are wonderful: it is 92 metres long and 12 metres wide and it's divided into three parts by two rows of columns with fairly decorated basis and capitals. Leonardo da Vinci was probably inspired by it when he designed his model of the perfect stable. In fact Leonardo's "polita stalla" of the Trivulziano Code and of Manuscript B (which you can virtually consult in the Exhibition) comes to the mind.

On the upper floors during the 15th century there were the lodgings of the grooms and the pages. Nowadays there you can find the International Shoes Museum "P. Bertolini" and the temporary Exhibition "Court Splendours"This stable is followed by the Second Stable where the Exhibition "Leonardo's Workshop" is hosted.

The stables, the building of which had been started by Galeazzo Maria, could accommodate a thousand horses. Ludovico il Moro commissioned the three stables fresco with geometric designs typically Bramante style and false architecture

A residential wing for the Duchess was added to the rear part of the "Maschio" and the elegant "Loggia delle Dame" was erected. At the end of the Sforza dynasty the castle was surrendered to the Spanish. This marked the beginning of a gradual decline; it went on to be used as army barracks for more than three centuries. The castle is currently undergoing restoration work.

Sala dell Affresco

The tower is situated at the town's highest point. It was built in several phases; construction began in 1198 and was finally completed by Bramante at the end of the fifteenth century. The tower, which has an unusual shape filaretiana in style, is made up of graduated parts. From its battlements there is a fine view over the piazza, the castle and the whole of the town.

Piazza Ducale

The Visconti-Sforza castle can be considered a small town inside the town, being one of the largest fortified structures in Europe. The first centre goes back to the Longobard period (7th-10th century), whereas the latter part of the construction is due to the Viscontis and the Sforzas, who transfornmed the castle into their private residence.At the construction of the castle have surely worked many important artists of the time, like Bramante and most probably also Leonardo da Vinci.

Text & pictures: Internet

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Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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Sound: Niccolò Paganini - Violin Concerto N° 5 in A minor - 03 - Rondo Andantino Quasi Allegretto